Chapter 4

Two Sides of One Coin! Ryo and the Inner Self

How could one not feel anxious when far away from home, living their lives apart from their loved ones. Some needed time to adjust, but for those like Mr. Keno. The moment the clock struck 9 P.M he nestled in for the night and fell into a deep sleep. But the common sleep most others experienced, but an internal sleep. See, while his body relaxed and recharged, his mind would wander into a special mental state only known to his kind. When chosen to indulge he'd enter a dream like world where all five senses of his senses were very much present, and where he could focus on other things. Yet, he wasn't the only one to occupy the space.

Floating above a glimmer void of light rested a large, circular stretch of grassland, with flows flowing in the breeze. The sun above lit up the area, while the cloud above provided some shade. A pretty calming place if you asked yet, but he hadn't come to kick back. No, he'd come for something more strenuous. Within the cloud bolts of lightning filled the area, before he found himself falling towards the ground.

"Cheap shot!" He cried out right before hitting the dirt.

It may have hurt, but with his body still resting in the real world it wouldn't transfer over. All pain felt within this state of mind was confined to it and it alone. Besides, it subsided within a few seconds. No big deal. His opponent though, that was a big deal. From up high a black figure covered in thin crevices, which glowed blue from the inside. But while its body retailed detail, outlining its well-toned form, its face was rather featureless. Aside from thin openings for the eyes and a jagged mouth, most likely representing its sharp teeth. It also lacked ears. Instead, a mass of white energy flowed upwards atop its head, like actual hair. The same energy that could be seen coming from within its eyes and mouth.

"What was cheap about that? You let your guard down and I got you good." The figure said, stretching its arms. "It's not my fault you suck at special awareness."

"Tsk. Forget about it. It's probably almost time to get up anyways." He said with a sigh.

"Nice. Another day, another…thing. I don't know." The figure said in return. "You're the attendee here."

"You could take over, if you want."

"Nah. I'm cool with laying back. Besides, the last thing I need is for that chick from yesterday to start chomping on me."

"Yeah. Think I should get a neck guard or something?"

"Could just give her a little zap."

"Nah. Too mean. Maybe a flick to the forehead or something."

"Or maybe threaten her with something more…perverse." The figure suggested.

"Oh, I've already figured her out. That seductress won't pull anything on me." Ryo proclaimed with confidence.

"No doubt. We're stronger than that, though she is pretty sexy." The figure admitted.

"Yeah…Yeah she is." He sighed, before walking to the edge of the field.

The light below had a warm feeling as he dove in, allowing it to envelop him in its rays. Everything within his line of sight turned to white, before the sound of his alarm clock filled his ears. Letting out a light groan, his eyes opened and were met with a view of the ceiling. Meanwhile, the annoying alarm of his clock was silenced.

"Seven in the morning? Yeah, that's about right." He sighed, jumping out from under his covers.

The rooms weren't large, but big enough to fit their needs. A simple king-sized bed, fridge, wooden table, and small bathroom were all he had, while his personal items allowed for more entertainment. They'd gone through some changes over the years. A laptop for playing movies and games, as well as typing out school papers, and an MP3 player for listening to music, very common items brought by students.

"Still got an hour and half left. What to do…" He wondered while glancing at his laptop.

"Eat some breakfast?" He heard the figure suggest from within his head.

"Toast with jelly it is then." He said in response.

"Again?! Come on, you've gotta sustain both of us here."

"Fine. Toast and a bagel."

"Hah hah! Now we're talking."

Ever since he could remember both he and this entity had always had a telepathic connection, allowing them to communicate without verbally saying anything. Pretty cool, huh? Well, privacy was something he lacked, but at least he'd have someone to chat with. Popping two pieces of toast into the toaster, he grabbed a bagel from the fridge. That's when a certain sound caught the entity's attention.

"Hey, Ryo, you hear that?" It pointed out. "It's coming across from us."

Stopping for a second, he caught wind of it too. Grunts and groans? Was someone in pain? It was coming through the only window in their room, across from his bed. Walking over to it, he opened it up and noticed the window across from them was also open. And inside they saw her, the same pink haired girl who'd tried tempting him yesterday, but instead of enjoying a nice breakfast she'd decided to pummel a large, white punching bag. With both fists and feet, she continuously caused it to swing around, the sweat causing her top to cling to her form while her pink panties remained safe.

"Well, that answers that." He said, intrigued by the sight. Though, another question arose. "You'd think they'd separate the boys' and girls' dorms a bit more."

"Not that your complaining or anything." The entity said with a chuckle.

"I can't deny, she's got a pretty nice body."

"Kinda underselling her a bit, aren't you?"

"No time. Back to breakfast." He said with a yawn, closing the window.

Everyone had their own morning routines. For Ryo, it involved filling his stomach with enough food to make it for the morning, for Minami, it was beating the hell out of a sandbag. And for Riku, it involved doing curls with two 150lbs dumbbells. Fifty reps at a time in sets of twenty, no more or less! If he wanted to keep those well-trained muscles of his he couldn't slouch. No way. His room, much like everyone else's, had a very similar layout. But, to make it feel homier he'd pinned several posters along its walls, each with an image of a famous human wrestler from across the globe.

"Forty-four, forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine…fifty." He grunted, the sweat dripping from his brow as he wiped it clean with a damp rag. "Alright, that's enough." He said with a heavy sigh, letting the heavy equipment fall to the floor beside his bed.

The morning hours were a struggle for many. With having rested for several hours it felt like a chore to simply get out of bed and start the day. But for Riku, it gave him enough time to keep himself in tip top shape. Plus, it helped raise his energy levels for morning classes. First things first, a nice, long shower, followed by a change of clothes and light breakfast. Stuffing one's face in the morning was never a good idea. You'd gain a lot of energy, but you'd crash just as hard.

Placing a small plate of buttered toast on the table, he took a seat and began eating. The quietness around him felt unnatural; possibly due to a lack of parents and siblings. Looking up, one poster caught his attention. The Savage Dynamo, a good boy turned heel wrestler known for his unrelenting force and brutal strikes that left his opponents dazed. He sported a black buzzcut, as well as a large, black dragon tattoo that stretched from the lower back to his upper chest, its mouth open right where his heart would be. A showman to some, but also an inspiration to always strive for your dreams.

"One day…" He uttered, before taking a bite.

As time passed other fellow students began making their way towards their first class. Some ready for the day ahead, while others felt like passing out on the ground. As for Ryo, he felt far more energized that he had after the previous day. With a full stomach and bag in hand he made his way down the dirt path leading to the main entrance, while others passed him along the way.

"You happy? You got your food." Asked Ryo.

"I'm content, for now."

"Yeah-yeah, lunch, I know."

"Mhm. Speaking of food what's on the menu for today?"

"No clue. Didn't bother checking the paper." Answered Ryo.

"God, I hope it's some kind of meat."

"That would be nice." He said with a little smile of his own.

School lunches weren't known for their quality, but without the proper supplies to cook their own meals it's all they had to sustain themselves for now. Well, that and some light snacks back at the dorm. Walking along the dirt path, a light breeze passed by, ruffling his hair. Other students weren't too far behind, but one of their voices sounded very familiar. The voice of a seductress!

"Yahoo! Ryo!" He heard her call out as he came to stop to look over his shoulder.

Much like yesterday, her hair was neatly combed with a big, red ribbon used to tie it into a long ponytail. One that draped down to her lower back. Her uniformed looked neat and tidy, while her complexion remained perfect. Even he had to admit, for someone with her personality she knew how to keep her looks up. Once within reach she made a sudden pounce for him, jumping square on his back.

"Wow! You're so strong." She said with an "innocent" smile, while using a hand to feel up the upper portion of his left arm. "Maybe you should carry me to class instead."

"You've got two feet, right?" He questioned. Looking back at her with a raised brow. "Mind using them?"

"Awww. But it's fun having my own horse to ride." She replied, poking at his left cheek. "You act like you don't enjoy this~" She followed up with, pressing her chest against him.

"Oh yes, I love their constant glares. So much fun." He replied sarcastically.

"Psh. You could whoop their butts easy."

"That's beside the point. You know how annoying it is having someone breathe down your neck?"

"Yep!" She said with enthusiasm, only to learn towards his neck. "Mind if I have some breakfast?" she asked innocently.

"You didn't eat anything?" He questioned.

"Nope. Not a thing."

"Oi. Alright, how about this. If I can guess the color of your panties, you'll have to get something else. But if I'm wrong, then I guess…" He proposed, knowing full well of the outcome.

"Oh ho! Kind of gutsy trying to guess that. Okay, you've got yourself a deal." She said confidently, jumping off his back. "Good luck guessing though. And no, I'm not giving you a hint~"

"Tsk. They're pink and laced, with a floral pattern across the front and rear." He answered straight out, giving her the most "I know your secret" expression. "Well?"

Dumbfounded, she remained quiet; mouth agape as nothing escaped. How did he know about her stash of sexy underwear? Wait. What if she'd flashed him by an accident a minute prior? There had been a slight gust a wind, so it was a possibility. However, he had a far more devious answer.

"Guess that answers that." He said with a sly chuckle, before turning to walk away. "Oh, and you may want to think of close your window next time. From one neighbor to another." He followed up, only to walk away on his own.

"Huh? Wha...Neighbor?" She pondered, confused by what he'd said. "Wait, what do you mean by that?!" she begged to know while running to catch up.

For several hours the very thought haunted her, the fact he's somehow seen her without her knowing. The very thought kind of creeped her out. As for him? Well, the answer never left his lips, at least for the moment. Why not let her piece it together on her own? Perhaps a little privacy invasion would keep her mind off any and all devious thoughts. Or not. It seemed with each passing hour she'd forgotten what he'd mention and come lunch period it was as if she'd heard nothing. Instead, she felt more content with filling her stomach while he settled for nothing.

"Whew. Not bad for school standards, but why didn't you eat anything?" She asked as they left the lunchroom.

"Don't need to. One meal a day is enough for me." He answered with a smirk.

"You're kidding. Nothing else?"

"Nope. My kind don't require much sustenance to get by." He explained. It may have sounded strange, but after what little breakfast they'd had his stomach had yet to beg. "Not that eating isn't something we do. If it's tasty we'll take what we can get. It's just not a requirement for survival."

"Oh okay, I was about to say. You'd be insane for not eating every now and then." She said with a sweet smile. "That's still pretty strange to think about."

"It saves on living expenses, at least." He replied, chuckling at her curiosity.

Since they'd only arrived yesterday and hadn't taken the time to explore and get to know the campus both had decided on walking around while they could. Though, there wasn't anything too exciting; unless you counted a few abandoned buildings off in the distant as "exciting" stuff. The main building, the school pool, and the back portion which hid the track and field, your pretty standard academy set up.

"You know, my aunt used to tell me this place was full of excitement. I'm not seeing it." She stated, disappointed by the lack of interesting locals.

"I mean, it's a school. They're all pretty similar in the end." He replied as they walked around back, hoping something of interest was near the track.

With only 10 minutes remaining of their lunch period it seemed they'd have little time to explore elsewhere outside the academy's boundaries. However, upon rounding the corner of the main building they were met with a loud yell, followed by an obnoxious laugh.

"You hear that?" He nervously asked.

"Yeah. It came from the track." She replied with a bit more enthusiasm, before grabbing his wrist, dragging him behind her. Much like a dog on a leash. "Come on, let's go find out what's up

"Why? Are you just naturally drawn to trouble?" He nervously questioned.

"Aren't you just a little bit curious?" She pressed with a suspicious smirk.

"Sounds like someone's in trouble, bro. Hope you're ready for a good old scuffle?" The entity followed up; its tone having switched to excitement.

"Are you nuts? You wanna get in trouble on only our second day?" he thought to himself.

"Nah. But, it's kinda our thing." It replied, chuckling.

"Yeah…" He replied, sighing in defeat.

Off in the distance it looked as if two of their fellow school mates had decided to pick a fight in the field portion of the track, but why? Weren't fights prohibited? Then again, neither were in their true monster forms. A loophole perhaps? It seemed that way until they spotted a familiar face watching the clash from the sidelines.

"Diashiro?" Ryo wondered, confused by his presence.

"Well-well, looks like Mr. Security Man's got some explaining to do." She said cockily.

"Shush. There's probably a reasonable explanation for this." He said, while walking up beside him.

That cold, stern expression never changed, huh? Both eyes were focused on the fight and nothing else. Was he a fan of school brawls? Probably not, but his lack of interference made them question what was really going on.

"Keno, I assume you're here because of the noise?" He said from out of nowhere, startling them both.

"Uh…Yeah. What uh…What's going on here?" He asked in his confusion.

"A fight. I thought it was pretty obvious."

"Cheeky bastard." The entity said with some amusement.

"Yeah, I know that, but why? Fights aren't allowed on campus. So, why aren't you stepping in?" He pressed.

"Did you read the manual?"

"Yeah?"

"Then you should know. Fights aren't allowed unless it's under certain circumstances and given permission by specific individuals. This is one of them." Diashiro replied bluntly.

"I…guess so? Why's this allowed though?"

"Our school used to have a problem with fights breaking out across campus from time to time. During which property was damaged and other students were injured. So, the decision was made to change the rule around." He explained, raising his clipboard, showing the signatures of six other students. "During lunch period of after school, if two or more students wish to take their aggression out on each other they're allowed to do so with a few stipulations. Only 15 minutes will be granted per fight, no lethal blows are allowed, and if you're thrown past the field's barrier, you lose."

"Huh. I guess that makes some sense." He said, thinking he had a decent point.

Those fighting weren't familiar to either of them though. One had his brown hair slicked back, his brown eyes filled with the flame of determination, while his opponent, who sported a blonde streak down his black hair, had his blue eyes focused only on him. By the look of it, blondie was having some trouble keeping up. With arms crossed, he tried blocking every punch thrown while his back pressed against soccer goal behind him, the stinking sensation for each causing him to flinch ever so slight. Alas, it wouldn't last forever. In a moment of hesitation to break the chain of attack, he winced, causing his defense to lower and giving his opponent an opening.

"You're wide open!" The boy exclaimed, delivering a hard-right punch to the side of his face.

This wasn't your standard strike though, this one caused blondie to tumble back outside the barrier. He had lost as he laid on his stomach, dazed by the attack.

"Holy crap." Minami said in astonishment

"That guy's no joke." Ryo followed, equally impressed by the display of pure strength.

What they weren't impressed with though was his attitude. Now, victory was something to be celebrated, but the way in which this guy chose to do so hadn't left the best first impression upon the group.

"I'm not sure what's stupider. The fact you willingly sought me out or that you thought you could win. Newsflash, you may act like an Alpha, but you're still at the bottom of the food chain here." He stated while walking past them, taking his leave from the scene. "If that's all you can muster, I'd quit while you're ahead."

The nerve of that guy! Telling someone to give up just because they weren't strong enough to best him in a single fight. Hearing such arrogance only made Minami's blood boil all the hotter. So, what if he wasn't the strongest? So, what if he lost? Practice made perfect, and she knew firsthand how true of a statement that was. She hadn't gained her immense strength overnight; it'd taken several years to get where she was. No, someone needed to teach this jerk a lesson in humility.

"Hey! Jerk wad! What do you think you're talking about?!" She called out from disgust, her voice taking on a far more serious tone. "You've got a problem with those beneath you?" She hissed.

"Huh?" Was all he said, looking back at the infuriated female.

"Minami, the hell are you doing?!" Exclaimed Ryo.

"It's not what I'm doing, it's what I'm about to do." She said through gritted teeth, while walking over to Diashiro. And without a second though, she snatched the clipboard from his hands and scribbled her name on the next line.

"Hot damn. Haven't seen this side of her." The entity said.

"That's what worries me…" Ryo thought nervously to himself.

Once signed, she approached the other boy, pressing the same sheet against his chest. It was clear as crystal, she intended on taking him down a few notches. Even if it meant breaking a few bones in the process.

"Sign it." She demanded.

"Tsk. We've only got 6 minutes. You know that, right?" He reminded her, signing his name, Banko Adachi, to the right of hers.

"It'll only take 3." She confidently replied, stepping onto the field with an equally as confident stride.

The guy didn't look so tough. 6'1, maybe around 150lbs, and both arms and legs weren't as toned as his previous opponent. But, as per usually, it wasn't wise to judge a book by its cover. Brushing a hand through his slicked back, dark brown hair, Banko entered the ring after her; the two sharing the same determined stare.

"Gonna transform, girly?" He pressed, giving off a cocky sneer.

"Don't need to. Not to beat your scummy butt." She replied while taking a combative stance.

"I like your style." Banko followed up, taking a similar stance.

With both at the ready, Diashiro raised his right hand to signal the coming start. Tension was high between the two, while Ryo's body began emitting small sparks. The time had come to see what she was all about.

"Begin!" Diashiro exclaimed, throwing his hand down.

In that moment both rushed towards each other, their hands curled into tight fists. Wind whistled by as they threw their hardest punches, both fists connecting as they struggled to push the other back. Taking the opportunity, Minami quickly lifted her left leg and delivered a strong kick to his torso, knocking him as his feet skidded across the grass.

"Hah! Not bad. Using the punch to distract me…Clever. But that'll only get you so far!" He exclaimed, rushing in again.

Charging towards him with the intent to knock him out, she came to a stop when he was only a few feet away. And raising her leg once more, gave it a hard swing towards his head. But one could see through such reused tactics. Raising both hands, he grabbed at her ankle, gripping it tightly in his grasp.

"You had something going there, but you got too cocky!" he exclaimed, before effortlessly hoisting her over his head. And with a bit more effort, threw her to the ground with a solid thud accompanying it. "You ruined it."

"Ugh…Damn…" she groaned, pushing herself up.

"You okay?" Ryo asked worryingly.

"Heh. I've taken worse from mom and grandfather." She said with an assuring chuckle, rising back to her feet.

"Well, at least you're durable. Best to not worry your friend there though." Banko mentioned, cracking his knuckles.

"Ryo, this may sound strange, but I need you to do something for me." She asked, wiping some dust from her cheek.

"What's that?" He asked.

"Never look down on me and never lose hope in me." She requested, her eyes remaining on her opponent.

The tone of her voice, it had changed again. From overly confident to great determination, this girl was set on kicking his butt one way or another.

"…Sure."

As their fight continued though their one sleeping beauty awoke from his slumber, having hit his head hard earlier. With a groan, Riku sat up from the ground, having heard the grunts and groans coming from nearby. Reaching back, he felt a slight bruise against the back of his head, but nothing major. Still, the memory of his loss remained.

"You've finally decided to wake up." Diashiro noticed, having seen him rise from the corner of his eye.

"Ugh…What's going on now?" He asked, wanting to put what happened before behind him.

"Well, we heard what the jerk said to you, she jumped in, and now we've got another fight going." Ryo explained.

"Another. Wait, who's this doing the fighting?" Riku questioned while jumping back to his feet. He could have cared less about what had been said to him.

"Minami Aono has taken it upon herself to best Banko Adachi in combat before class begins." Diashiro explained in his usual calm manner.

"Aono? The hell is that?"

"If you come and watch you'd find out." Ryo said with a friendly smile.

The spectacle before them had turned into quite the show. While Minami had both speed and strength on her side, Banko had just as much strength plus better durability. The guy was like a living wall. With each punch that landed he'd endure whatever pain came afterwards. But, like most monster she too had a couple traits that helped in combat. Sure, his punches were quick and hard, but due to her flexible and agile nature hitting her would prove a bit more challenging. Not to mention she proved just as durable. Despite a few solid shots to the abdomen, she remained standing. Two minutes remained.

"Not bad, but you're not getting through me." Declared Banko.

"You say that like it's a sure-fire thing, but I see it differently." She replied while catching her breathe.

"There's not much time left, so you've better make this count!" He exclaimed in pure excitement, charging forth with the intent to finish their little scuffle.

Bad move. Their time limit had made him reckless, and now he'd pay the price. Coming in with one last tough punch, she simply stood there, watching his approach. Confusion surrounded both him and their audience, but he couldn't stop now. This was his strongest attack. Air whistled by as he threw his arm forward, only to see her suddenly duck down and out of the way.

"What…?" He said, surprised by her sudden and quick movement.

And without a single word she leapt up, delivering her own strike to the bottom of his jaw. How strong was it? She'd managed to knock him 6 feet off the ground. Oh, but the fun had only just begun. While in mid-air she grabbed his legs, tightening her grip in the process, before swinging him around. With the boundary only a few feet away she quickly released, sending him flying off the field and only the rough track floor.

"And that's how it's done!" She declared, victorious in the endeavor.

"Well, that settles that." Diashiro said, marking their names off the list.

"Holy crap. She just threw him like he was nothing." Riku said in astonishment.

"She's one tough cookie." Ryo replied.

Only two days in and they'd already made an enemy out of another student. Wonderful. Still, the smile on her face and cheerful attitude after their little brawl was a good change of pace. With a little high five both she and Ryo celebrated, while Riku looked back to see her opponent's reaction. Only, he wasn't there. He'd taken off without their knowing.